Best of OUA showcased at 2009 Ontario Cup

HAMILTON, Ont. - An exciting 2008-09 season of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women's basketball will have a star-studded conclusion on Saturday, May 9 in the inaugural OUA All-Star Game to take place at RIM Park in Waterloo, Ont. as part of the 2009 Ontario Basketball Association (OBA) Ontario Cup.

Twenty players who were named OUA all-stars or members of the all-rookie teams this past season will showcase their skills in a battle of East versus West. The East is led by its player of the year Alaine Hutton (Hamilton, Ont.) of the Toronto Varsity Blues, top rookie Abby Edmison (Carleton Place, Ont.) of the Royal Military College Paladins and defensive player of the year Tanya Perry (Barrie, Ont.) of the Carleton Ravens. Hutton will be joined by U of T teammate Nicki Schutz (Toronto, Ont.) as together they formed the most potent scoring duo in OUA this past regular season with a combined 754 points, or 34.3 points per game. The team is led by East Division coach of the year Andy Sparks of the OUA finalist Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The West also boasts a strong squad, including Dranadia Roc (Montreal, Que.) and Alisa Wulff (Pickering, Ont.), both members of the OUA champion Windsor Lancers. They will have a familiar bench boss in Chantal Vallée, who was named West Division coach of the year after leading the Lancers to the best regular season record (21-1) in OUA. Vallee also led Windsor to its first appearance at the CIS national tournament. They will be joined by Western Mustangs guard Amanda Anderson (Dover Centre, Ont.) who led all West Division players averaging 16.1 points per game during the regular season.

The all-star showcase also marks a final opportunity for a trio of players to wear the uniforms of their respective teams. Sharlene Harding (Brampton, Ont.) of the Paladins, Laura MacCallum (Paris, Ont.) of the York Lions and Kathryn Verboom (Thunder Bay, Ont.) of the Lakehead Thunderwolves have completed their final year of CIS eligibility, and have one final opportunity to play alongside their peers. All three individuals have made their mark on their respective programs with Harding, a former Queen's Gael, leading the Paladins in points and rebounds in 2008-09, MacCallum finishing her career as York's all-time leading scorer and Verboom placing ninth on the all-time Lakehead points list.

Mascots from the competing OUA schools will also be in attendance, and will showcase their basketball skills during halftime.

Tip off is set for 7 p.m. on May 9 at RIM Park in Waterloo, Ont. Admission is free of charge.

The OUA All-Star Game is being played in conjunction with the Under 17 and Under 19 Girls Ontario Basketball Provincial Championships. In all, 97 teams from across the province will be competing in the two age categories in a quest to have fun, play fair and to bring home a gold medal.

Ontario Basketball is a not-for-profit association that governs the sport of basketball in the Province of Ontario. Incorporated in 1977, Ontario Basketball represents Ontario's amateur basketball interests, its membership consists of athletes, coaches, officials, clubs, camps, local basketball organizations, groups, leagues and basketball supporters. As part of its mandate, Ontario Basketball is committed to working with Canada Basketball, Toronto Raptors Basketball Club and NBA Canada to promote and develop amateur basketball in the province. For more information on Ontario Basketball and its programs please visit www.basketball.on.ca.

OUA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS

EAST DIVISION

Darrah Bumstead F New Hamburg, Ont. Laurentian
Abby Edmison G St. Andrew, Ont. RMC
Sharlene Harding F Brampton, Ont. RMC
Jenny Hobbs G Burlington, Ont. Ryerson
Alaine Hutton G Hamilton, Ont. Toronto
Ines Jelic F London, Ont. Carleton
Laura MacCallum G Paris, Ont. York
Emilie Morasse G Quebec City, Que. Ottawa
Tanya Perry G Barrie, Ont. Carleton
Nicki Schutz F Toronto, Ont. Toronto

Head Coach: Andy Sparks (Ottawa)

WEST DIVISION

Renata Adamczyk F Dundas, Ont. Laurier
Amanda Anderson G Dover Centre, Ont. Western
Kim Lee G Ajax, Ont. Waterloo
Tasia McKenna G Timberlea, N.S. Lakehead
Kelly Moulden G Dundas, Ont. Western
Dranadia Roc G Montreal, Que. Windsor
Taylor Smith G Hamilton, Ont. McMaster
Alisa Wulff F Pickering, Ont. Windsor
Kathryn Verboom F Thunder Bay, Ont. Lakehead
Kris Yallin G Port Colborne, Ont. Guelph

Head Coach: Chantal Vallée (Windsor)

- OUA -